Cooling bed



Oct. 26, 1943. G. l.. FlsK ET AL COOLING-BED Filed April 6, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 oct. ze, 194s. G. L. HSK Em 2,332,905

COOLING BED Filed April e, 1942 5 sheets-sheet figa.

Z ZZ 5a il; @Je

l INVENTORS 'Gusta/L F/Is/f and Wam Z Pee/'son Oct. 26, 1943. G. L. ISK ETAL 2,332,905

COOLING BED Filed April 6, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 26, 1943.

G. L. FlsK ET rAl. 2,332,905

COOLING BED FiledApril 6, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 26, 1943` COOLING BED Gustaf L. Fisk,'New Fairfield, Conn., and Edward T. Peterson, Reading, Pa.; said Fisk assignor to Mesta Machine Company, West Homestead, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania, and said Peterson assigner to Birdsboro Steel Foundry & Machine Company, Birdsboro, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 6, 1942, Serial No. 437,794

(el.` :so- 42) 8 Claims.

This invention relatesto cooling beds for a variety of products and, in particular, to cooling beds having provisions for the annealing of at bars in a continuous pack.

Cooling beds having provisions, for pack-annealingv have been used for many years. Certain forms of such beds are shown in Fisk Patent No. 1,761,470, Fisk and Peterson Patent No. 1,954,123 and Peterson Patent No. 1,834,728. The known cooling beds, however, have been capable of annealing rolled bars of relatively narrow widths only, say up to 4". More recently, it has appearedV desirable to subject much wider bars, e. g., up to 8" wide, to pack-annealing, but this cannot be accomplished successfully by the structures 'and mechanisms known previously. Furthermore, it has been the practice to deliver bars on edge into a pack for annealing, placing them on the bed in an Vinclined position against lateral support.l With this method the stability of the pack is often precarious in its early stages of formation. In case of the first bar thus delivered for annealing, for instance, the friction between thelower edge of the bar and the bed surface, and the friction caused by the reaction from the lateral support due to the Weight of the bar in'its inclined position, are the only forces which maintain ther bar in equilibrium. In addition, when pack-annealing bars on beds of knowntypes, it is found that the bars do not readily separate from each other at the discharge side `of the pack. Instead, the bars have a tendency to shingle so that considerable time and labor are required to separate them preparatory to subsequent handling.

We have invented a novel cooling bed which fully overcomes the aforementioned objections to suchbeds as previously known. In a preferred embodiment, we provide latch members and retreating abutments adapted to support a pack on the entry side and discharge side' respectively, with the flat bars of the pack standing on edge during the cooling process 'as they progressively move across the pack-annealing section of a cooling bed. The latch members and the retreating abtments depend from supports above the packannealing section of the cooling bed, which supports are mounted for vertical movement; to adjust the elevation of the latch members and the retreating abutments to suit bars of different widths. The latch members, pivoted on the supports, are displaced each time a bar is added to the pack and then restored by gravity to holding position, while the retreatingabutments, guided bythe supports, retreat to make room for each `bar added lto the pack until the pack hasgrown separation. i

For a complete understanding of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which will be described and explained in detail hereinafter. In the drawings:

Figure l is a typical transverse section through a cooling bed vwithparts in elevation, showing latch member, retreating abutment, their support and operating rig, in accordancewith the present invention, the parts being in position for packing relatively wide at bars; i

Figure 2 is a partial side elevational View ofthe apparatus of Figure 1, showingthe operating rig for the arms supporting the latch members and the retreating abutments; i

Figure 3 is a transverse sectionv of the same cooling bed with the packing mechanism and its operating rig in position for packing of relatively narrow flat bars; i Y

Figure 4 is atop plan IViewl of' one of the arms with latch member and retreating abutment;

`Figure 5 is a transverse section of the same cooling bed with the pack-supporting mechanism and its operating rig in position to clear the bed or to restore the retreating abutments to` starting position; l

Figure 6 is a partial side elevational view of the apparatus of Figure 5 showing the operating rig for the pack-supporting mechanism in correspending position;

Figure 'l is a` cross sectional view,` on line VII-VII of Figure 5, through the `retreating abutment and the arm supporting it;

Figure 8 is a typical transverse section through a cooling bed showing a modied form of the invention, with parts in position for packing of relatively wide flatbars; and

Figure 9 is a transverse section throughthe same cooling bed shown in Figure '8, but with parts in position for packing of relatively narrow flat bars. Y

Referring now in detail to the drawings and, for the present, to Figure l, hot bars I emerging from a rolling mill, are delivered along one side of a cooling bed on a run-in conveyor comprising a plurality of motor-driven rollers 2. Aprons 3,-- when elevated by suitable mechanism, lift the hot bars I off the rollers 2, to arrest their motion and elevate them sufciently to clear the upper edge of aprons 4. The aprons 3 are carried on a beam 3a. Bell cranks 3b pivoted in the main frame castings ofthe bed eachfhave'an arm supporting thebeam and are actuated-by a thrust rod 3c pivoted to the other arm of each crank.

Side guards 5, movablelongitudinally of the roll-i ers 2, then serve as a kick-off, by displacing the bars I laterally from the rollers 2. The side guards 5 are simply cast flangedy platesof relatively short length disposed: longitudinally of* the conveyor for angular sliding on aprons 3, e

each plate being pivoted adjacentone end of a vertical pin 5a. Links 5b are pivoted toeach plate adjacent the other end land* to 'one' ofV a plurality of cranks spaced along a longitudinal shaft .'ic. of each plate 5 swings about the pivot pin 5a at its other end.

The cooling bedcomprises, inr additiontc the sloping skid section. formedby the aprQrlSA. an'

at I9 in Patent No.,'l,954,1;23. Thevbars *formingV the arcuatesection E, packing section 'I` and discharge section, `3 are rpivoted on a, longitudinal shaft IQ, whereby Athey maybe tilted tok discharge bars delivered thereto immediately, .inv case pack annealing is not desired. To this end the bars forming sections 6, l and 8, are secured,

to a beam Eid. A shaft llahas eccentr-ics spaced therealong provided with Alinksfti` pivoted to the beam. Y

The., .shaft ,la isfaiso.` presided withY seeking arms I,I lclisposedb etween adjacentbarsA or4 aprons of the sloping skid section II- and the arcuate skid sections. ,These armshserve, on rotation of, shaft I0, to move aA bar, froma'po'sition at the.

foot ,ofthe,slopingr skid,sectionl 4 upwardly over the arcuate skidsection 6 to the entering-side of`v apack-,of barsl disposedon edge`indicatedgen skid-.section 14,. asfprevoillv indicated, by the laterally movablesidedguardsy 5,; which actas a-` The Vnovel, pack-supporting which "weY have invented particularly for the purpose 'of maintaining a pack o f extrawide` bars4 aswell as packs of barsof ordinary widthsvwill now, be clescribed. It comprises. a plurality .of arms I2 spaced along the length of the coolingbed. Each arm I2 is pivoted on a pin I3 iria, slide I4 and supportedon shoulder I5 of bracket Ifformed on slide I4. "lhesliclesI I4 are guided for,vertica1.

movement in the main frame members of the bed, as indicatedat IiA andflsof Figures. This movement is eiected by bell cranks I 9 pivoted at 2U to the main frame members of` thebed. See

Figures ,l and 2. The arm4 2. I of,- each bell crank I9 is.l connected to slide Iii/.bymeans of link22,

and'. the other arm, 23.iis piv,oted to a thrust rod 24 extending longitudinally of the bed. ,Motion imparted to rod 24, by anysuitable motor ldriven or manually operated means ,of ,well ,known construction, causesthe bell `cranks l3nt@ turn on their pivots 20;, thus raising or `lowering,igl'ieslidles Iivand with them the arms;` |21.- Itwill be Aappar@ ent that the arrangementfor raisina and IQWEl-,

Thus by rocking theshaft, .one end' ing the apron 3 is similar to that just described and more fully shown for the slides Ill.

Each arm l2 has an extension 25 pivotally connected by a pin 2E to a slotted link 2B. rlZhe link 28 is pivoted at 29 to the main frame member of thebed. Faces B of the links 28 serve as guides for the arms I2, the ends oi which are bifurcated,

,and the pins 26 are free to move in the slots 23a during the travel of slides Ifi with arms I2, up or down, to adjust the position of the packsupportingmeans to suit any particular width ofv bar tov be handled. During such adjustments, therefore, the position of arms I2 is changed only as to elevation with respect to the packing section 'I of the cooling bed; i. e., the arms I2 are moved vertically but withont angular change of position. When the slides Ill and the arms I2, have been elevated sufficiently by actuating rod 2li, to cause pins 26 to engage the upper ends of slots 28a. in links 28, further elevation of slides lili bycontinued movement vof rodv 2,3, causes the arms I2 to tilt-on pins I3. Inv this manner the arms I2 aremoved angularly `to the position shown in Figure 5, to restoreto starting position thev pack-supportingaloutmentsl (to befdescribed) or teclear the bed inthe interest of accessibility. Figure. fi'shows the position of bell crank I9, link 22 and slide I4 corresponding tothe position of arms I2 in Figure 5. e n j Whereas rod 24 serves to move the arms I2 collectively to adjust the pack-supporting meansfor fie.y

diiferentwidths of bars or to bringfrtheI packsupporting abutments to starting position, ind ividualy adjustment for alignment of arms I2 is also provided for; To this end. ,the/'links 22 are made in thefform of turn-bucklesso their lengthcan vbe adjusted toy change the position of arms l2 for exact alignment. In addition to the abut-` ments 34, wemay alsofprovide lower retreating abutmentsfSa, as fullydisclosedv in Fisk Patentv i livei'ed on'. ledge'.

guided in tracksjSE on` each of the arms I2 and.

A pack engaging latch member 3l is pivoted` at 32 to` each of the arms I2L'The latch members.l

arev so` positionedy relative to theirl pivot pins that the projvectingfleft hand ends of the members. over-balancey thel right hand ends, whereby the latternormally engage the stops 33. The latch members 3L serve to support the pack ,ony the entry side, Aasthe flat bars'of the packare de- A"retreating abutment 34 is is free to `retreat when actuated lby the delivery of bars tothe packingsection 'I. The abutmentsV iserve to support the pack on the discharge ,side by virtue of friction between abutments 3Q.

"and their tracks 35, due to the weight of the abutments. This support forthe pack, however, may be augmented byusingcounterweights 3BV connectedto abutments 34by cables 3l, operate ing over guide pulleys Sfa'nd serving to further resist the retreatingmotion of abutments 34. The counterweightsi are preferably mounted for'reciprocation,inside the slidesv I il, which. are made hollowfor that purpose.

The tracks'for the'fietreating abutments 3 4 are inclined with respect tothevpacking positionA of section IY of the coolirgbe'd, so thatlthe abut.-

ments 33 are pusheduphill 'during`,th eformation,

ofthe pack. The abutmentsS 'h `faces 39,

which engage thefside of the iirst;` arV delivered` toiorm a packQat a substantial depthbelow its top edge, andthus forma dependable-.support for the bar,y standing on its bottom' edge., The abutment; .34 is Shown dei andi flesh: lines in this ippsitioninFigurefjl. -As bars aref addedfto ,forniv a pack on section 'I ofthe bed the abutments 34, guided in tracks 35, are forced to travel uphill so as togradually reduce the depth of their engagement with `the firstbar` of the pack and thus leave itfree to drop from the pack by gravity, when the pack is completed and the first bar reaches the sloping discharge section 8 of the bed. `The abutments 34 then cease to retreat and annealed barsdrop by gravity from` the discharge side of the pack as hot .barsv are added to the entry side, In addition to the abutments 34,'We may also provide lower retreating abutments 34a, as fully disclosed in Fisk Patent 1,921,353.

The arms I2 withlatch members3l` andabutments 34 are made narrow asshown in Figure 4 and are spaced along the length of the cooling bed vto barely clear the :packing arms II in their motion delivering barsto Vpack position. arrangementreduces toa` minimum the bending moment exerted on the `bars by the force of the packing arms in displacing the latch members 3| and forcing the abutments 34 to retreat. It appears not to be necessary, however, to provide arms with pack-supporting means for every packing arm.

The manner in which the apparatus described above is operated to pack thin flat bars of any particular width for progressive cooling in contact with each other will now be explained. The

rod 24 is first operated to swing the arms I2 to Y position shown inFgure 5, to cause the abutments 34 to slide to starting position. The motion of rod 24 is then reversed to cause the arms I 2 t0 come to rest on shoulders I5 on brackets I6 of slides I4, and the motion of rod 24 is continued until the latch members 3l and the abutments 34 reach the proper level for support-y ing a pack of bars of the particular width to be handled. Such a setting for relatively wide bars is shown in Figure Y1, whereasthe setting of ,the pack-supporting mechanism for relatively narrow bars is shown in-Figure` 3.; In case of bars of minimum width, the arms I2 are lowered still further, to bring the abutments 34 to the dotted line position shown in Figure 3, where they reach below the top surface ofthe packing section `PI of the bed when they are in position to start a pack. Grooves are provided in theaprons of packing sections 'I to accommodate the abutments 34 without interference, or;the skids of the packing section 'l may be spaced .to accomplish this purpose. The proceedings are then identical, irrespective ofwidth of bars handled. The first` bar is received b y the conveyor rollers 2 and is kicked off by the side guards 5 to slide down the sloping skid section; 4 of the bed. When the bar reaches the bottom ofthe sloping skid section, the shaft I3 is operated to swing the packing `arms II to the position indicated in dotand dash lines in Figure 1. During this movement, the upper edge of the bar while suppcrtedby the faces of the packing arms Ilengages and displaces the projecting ends of the latch members 3 I. When the bar in transit has passed beyond the ends of the latch members, the latter fall back to their initial position, determined by stops 33. The `shaft I 0 is then operated in the opposite direction to return the packing arms II to their starting position below the face of sloping skid section 4. 'Ihis position of the packing arms II is shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. The first bar thus delivered to the packing section I, due to the force exertedby the packing arms II, causes the abutments 34 torei treat sufcientlyto make rcom'for the bar thus This placed on edge, between the faces 39 of the abutments 34 and the faces Jlof the latch members 3|. The delivery of additional bars to form a pack on section 'I of thebed causes the abutments 34 to retreat further in the same manner. As already explained the depth of `engagement between the packand the abutments 34 is gradually reducedas the pack increases in size.V Thus, we fully support the bars of` the pack in.; its early stage of formation and, at the Sametime, permit free discharge of the annealed bars from.r *he completed pack. f

With the original pack in Figures 1 and 3, it will be evident that the addition of. another bar will cause the rst .bar of the pack to pass beyond the packing section 1 of the bed, whereupon it is free to falldown the relatively steeply inclined discharge section 8 for further handling by final cooling secton9. A clean separationof each bar individually from the remaining bars Yof the pack results from the fact that the weight of the bar is much greater thanthe frictional force exerted thereon by the abutments 34, in their elevated position at the discharge side of the pack. .i

Continued operation through the above described cycle causes the discharge of the leading bar from the discharge side of the pack each time van additional bar is delivered to the entry side of the pack. When the desired quantity Vof bar stock has been rolled and delivered to the packannealing section 'I of the bed, the last bars rolled form a residual pack. It fully covers the pack annealing section, where it `is retained until its bars have beenfully annealed by slow cooling. The pack-annealing section of the bed is then tilted by rotation of shaft 1a to cause the bars forming the residual pack to. slide downwardly onto the nnalcooling or carry-over bed 9 for further handling.

This method of clearing the residual pack has certain drawbacks in common with established practices on existing cooling `beds equipped for pack-annealing of flat bars. It is a source of delay to subsequent handling and shearing operations, which must wait during the time needed to cool the-residual pack. It is also objectionable because of the considerable labor involved in separating Ythe bars of the residual pack after they have been delivered to the iinal cooling or carry-over bed. The dumping of the residual' pack from the pack-annealing section of the bed cause the bars to shingle in the wrong di-l rection, in that the more advanced barsin the pack become more or less pinched or covered by subsequent bars, and the job of extracting them from the pack thus involves considerable effort and much labor.

In a modified form of our invention, as illustrated by Figures 8 and 9, these difficulties per taining to the residual pack are eliminated and the labor Vrequired is very much reduced. To this purpose the tracks 35 for the abutments 34 are made horizontal, with the arms I2, latch members 3l and abutments 34 in packing position. Just the same, the abutments 34 are caused to recede from contact with the pack4 by ltilting the packing section 'I on shaft I0 to an appropriate angle,.as illustrated in `Figures 8 and 9 for wide and narrow bars respectively.` The abutments 34V can thus be made to support. a pack of bars `of predetermined size up tothe capacity of the packing section ,of the bed.

To l@new. iielivery. of the nat bars in inclined;-

completed,` as shown position on the annealing section of the bed, as shownin Figures 8 and- 9, the packing arms Ill are so shaped. that their working faces 4i automatically deliver the bars to the pack at desired inclinations.V `The stopping point of the packing.

arms |;lfor such delivery, is adjusted for` different widths of'V bars, to deliver them past the latch members 31|; and allow these latch members todrop Jo-,holding position.

During the packing. process the operations are the same as` described-above for nat bars vertically disposed in pack formation. When the desired quantity of bary stock has been rolled' and delivered to the pack-annealing section, however, thethen remaining residual pack'` can readily be disposed of, without delayto subsequent handling. and shearing operations...

By placing a man. at either,- end of. thepacking. section, the bars of. the residuali. pack, now sloping in the desired direction, can easily be separated manually from thepack and caused to slide down the discharge section. 8 onto the final cooling sectionS. If the rateoii discharge ot bars from: the' packing section be maintained at the rate prevailing during the packing process;y then they time forxcooling the bars of the residual pack` willi also remain the` same, and the speed of subsequent` handling and shearing operations will remain unchanged;

Several of, the advantages of, our invention have been mentioned above in the course ofthe detailed description. By placing the bars vertically on edge, in pack formation,` and by supporting the bars ofz the pack against over-turningin. either direction,v dependable means are, provided to. maintain the stability of the pack during all stages` of the packingl process. In thisfrespect, the invention, isa, kmarked improvement over prior pack-annealing cooling` bedsY which` depend upon friction alone due to thev weight of thegloarsV irrinclined position, 0r onlateralA support in, one direction, only, to maintain` the pack Furthermore-, the invention, provides an improved cooling bed having simple and relatively/inexpensive provisions ior the pack annealing of Ybars of various widths upto anymaximumthe cooling bed as a whole is suited to handle. In addition,

by virtueof the particular motion o i the `re treating abutments, which iirinly` support .the

barsagainst over-turning during all. stages of the packing process but still leavelthem free to drop at. the discharge side of the packing bed, the leading bar of.' thejpack separates itself quickly and cleanly.r from the remainder oi" the pack'as al succeeding bar isV delivered to the entry side thereof: In a'` modiiiedform` ofthe invention, as

illustrated byl Figures 8'and 9, we have also over-y come some inherent diiiiculties in disposing ofv thev residual packas already explained;

Although we have illustrated and described' but two preferred 'embodiments or"` the invention, it will; be recognized that changes in the construction andarrangement-may beY made without' departing' from the spirit oi` the inventionor theV scopeoft'he appended claims.-

We claim-z Y 1`-, In av coolingd bed having a'sectionfor-packannealing ofl thini fiat-V bars which do not" standonA edge without'lateral support, means,` forl placinge bars verticallyon edge' tol form a pack-'f and means to laterally support bars thus placed agamst-overturning in-both directions, saidlastmentioned means'.` including traveling abutments. initiallyf engaging the side ofthe' leading barof. the pack, and.E moving at an` angle tothe planeof saidA section so as finally to engage .the upper edge of thetleading bar. Y

2.1In a cooling bedr'having a section for packannealing thin flat bars. which do not stand on edge without lateral support, means for placing bars on edge to form a pack, pivoted supports engaging the Abar last placed, traveling abutments initially: engaging the side of the leading barv of the pack and means guiding said abutments along a path at an. angle, to the plane of said; section whereby said abutments finally engage the upper edge of the leading bar. y

3. In a cooling bed having a section for packannealing thin flat barsv which do not stand on edge without lateral support, means. for placing bars on edge to form a pack, displaceable latch members engaging the last bar placed, and traveling abutments engaging the leading bar of the pack, saidv members andl traveling abutments being adjustable for bars of different widths, and common means for adjusting said members and abutments.

4. In` a cooling bed having a sectionv adaptedA for pack-annealing thin at bars incapable of standing on edge to form a pack without lateral support, meansl for delivering bars on edge successivelyA to said section, supports overhanging said section, rear .abutmentsmounted on said supports for displacement by successive bars, said abutments beingadapted after passage of a bar to engage the latterand` thereby hold the pack of previously delivered bars-*from overturning rearwardly, and forward abutments on said supports adapted to` be engaged by therrst bar in the pack, said forward abutmentsbeing movable along said supports asthe pack is built up.

5. In a cooling bed-having a section adapted said section, rear abutments mounted on said supports for displacement by successive bars, said abutments. being adapted after passage of a bary to engagethe latter and thereby hold the pack of previously delivered bars from overturning rearwardly, andiforward abutments on-said supports: adapted lto be engaged by the rst bar in` the packjsaid forward abutments being movable along said.. supports as the pack is` built up, said rear abutments being latch memberspivoted to saidsupports.

6. In a cooling bed having a section adapted for pack-annealing thin flat bars incapable of standing on edge to form a pack without lateral support, means for delivering bars on` edge successively to said section, supports overhanging said section, rear abutments mounted on said'supports for displacement by. successive bars, said abutmentsbeing .adapted after passage of a bar to engage the latter and thereby hold the pack of previously delivered bars from overturning rearwardly, forward abutments on said supports adaptedtol be engagedby the first barin the pack, said forward abutments being movable .along said supportsas the pack is built upand means for adjusting said supports in. order that theabutments may cooperate with bars of difierent widths.

'7. Inv a cooling bed lhaving a sectionv adapted for pack-annealing thin flat bars incapable of standing on edge to forma pack without lateral support,means for-delivering bars onedge successively toy said section,- supports overhanging saidJsection,y rearv abutments mounted on saidsupports for displacement by successive bars, said abutments being adapted after passage of a bar` to engage the latter and thereby hold the pack of previously delivered bars from overturning rearwardly, forward abutments on said supports `adapted to be engaged by the first oar in the pack, said forward abutments being movable along said supports as the pack is built up, and means for tilting said supports in order to restore said forward abutments to pack-starting position.

8. In a cooling bed `having a section adapted for pack-annealing thin flat bars incapable of standing on edge to form a pack Without lateral` support, means for delivering bars on edge successively to said section, supports overhanging ports adapted to be engaged by the first bar in the pack, said forward abutments being movable along said supports as the pack is built up, said i supports being disposed at an angle to the packannealing section whereby said forward abutments gradually move away from said section as Y a pack is built up thereon.

GUSTAF L. FISK. EDWARD T. PETERSON. 

